Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-12-08
WOOL MEN DISAPPR0VE.
A Reso utiOn From the Conferenee-The
Message Condemned.

Reso utiOn From the Conference.-The
Message Condemned.
WASHINGTON, d. c., December AT
to days session of the conference Of the
wool growers and wool dealers Of the
United States, called by the President Of
the National Association Of Wool Growers,
the following was unanimously adopted:
The wool dealers and wool growers Of
the United States, representing capital Of
over five hundred millions Of dollars and 3
constituency OF million wool growers and
dealers, assembled in conference in the
city OF Washington the eth day of Decem-
Der, 1887, having read the first annual
message OF the President to the Fittieth
Congress, declare that the sentiments Of
the message are direct attack
upon their industry, one Of the
most important of the country, and
in positive violation Of the National Demo
cratic platform OF 1884, rs interpreted by
the party leaders, and accepted by the
rank and file of the party; that the argu-
ment made BY the President for the re-
moval of our protection against foreign
competition, is the old one, repeatedly
made by the enemies of our industrial pro-
gress, and effectively answered in nearly
eyery school district in our land, and so
thoroughly disapproyed by the logic OF
facts and the demonstration OF experience
and history, rs to need no answer from us.
We acknowledge that on Small holdings"
our scattered and unorganiZed cond ton
makes Us the easy prey for the free trader,
hut we had right to ex-
pect something different from
the Chief Executive of the nation, at once
the most happy, prosperous and contented
of any Of the world, made 30 by policy
of protection and development, which he
now seeks to destroy. We had a right to
expect our President would favor the wool
growers of the United States, and confess
our deep disappointment, that instead, he
favors the interests OF our foreign COM
pettOIs.
Justly alarmed at his position, We make
An appeal from his recommendation to the
people, to all the people, TO the seven and
|
zens engaged in agriculture, to the millions
engaged in manufacturing, TO the army
of wage earners, whose wages are
maintained by the protective sys-
tenn. to the tradesmen and
merchants whose prosperity depends
upon ours, confident that the Judgment
and decision will be based upon Justice
and patriotism, and therefore for the
maintenance of the American policy Of
protection. to which the country is in
debted. for its unexsmpled development
and prosperity.
ITO demonstrate the injustice Of the
Presidents policy and the iallacy OF the
remedy he proposes for the reduction Of
the surplus, we point TO the fact that II
the whole amount of the revenue derived
from wool was abolished it would reduce
the surplus only about five mill
ions, or less than ten cents per
capita OF the population, which
ia paid by foreigners. While the old war
taxes he recommends retained yield over
one hundred and nineteen millions and is
q direct tax pr capita of two dollars each,
and il what makes up the great bulk OF
the surplus OF one hundred aud forty mil
lions, and which fosters a most dangerous
monopoly.
1--WE would further add the following
statistics in regard TO the wool industry
The annual revenue derived from the i'm
ports of wool under the tariff of 1867 was
less than $4,7OO, 900; under the reduced
tariff of 1883 the revenue lat
GEAR WAS over five millions. The
number OF sheep in the country IN
1884 was 80, 626. 626, in 1877, A, 1891 q
decrease of nearly G,OOO, 900, and dimin-
u,ion OF the annual wool product Of over
IS, 600, 600 pounds, thus showing that re-
ducing the tariff by the act OF l553 has
Increased the revenue from imported wools
and diminished the number OF sheep in the
United States about twelve per cent, and
the annual product in the same proportion.
1.-THE Presidents policy would bring
about the destruction Of this industry, and
the same policy Of reduction on abolition
of the tariff would end in disaster to all
other industrial productive enterprises OF
the countryh